Help!! Raising a butterfly

[thebusybee]

One most important thing to keep a caterpillar is - you have to feed them exactly the same type of leaves you pick it up from, if not it will die of hunger. That’s what my bro discovered, as he loved to keep worms and insects during childhood days.


Some of his caterpillars turned into moths instead of beautiful butterfly! (If I recall correctly, the pretty ones are moth babies.

[BigDevil]

25hourmaid:

What exactly is CMIIW? :? This is the second time I am seeing this term from peterch. Care to enlighten me? :? Thanks.

:hi5: maid!

First time I come across this acronym too and thanks to Google, I now know it means \"Correct Me If I'm Wrong\".

[maki]

jtoh:

Where would I go to get a caterpillar? This is so interesting.

You can get one of the most commonest breed ie the lime butterflies from the kumquat plant (especially during CNY).

http://butterflycircle.blogspot.com/2008/04/life-history-of-lime-butterfly_01.html

These butterflies are attracted by the strong citrus smell of the plant. You will find many butterflies laying eggs on the underside of the leaves. The birds will also be your common visitors which can be a nuisance. So after about a week or so, before they are eaten up by the birds and when it's easier to breed them when its bigger, you should transfer these caterpillars to a transparent plastic container & poke some holes on the lid for ventilation. Place some leaves with twigs as these crawlies love lazing on the twigs. Their consumption is small initially but once it sheds it skin from brown to green, their consumption became enormous, so just make sure you have enough leaves overnight during this period.

Cleaning is needed daily but once it's about to be a pupa, then just leave it alone.

[maki]

thebusybee:

One most important thing to keep a caterpillar is - you have to feed them exactly the same type of leaves you pick it up from, if not it will die of hunger. That's what my bro discovered, as he loved to keep worms and insects during childhood days.


Some of his caterpillars turned into moths instead of beautiful butterfly! (If I recall correctly, the pretty ones are moth babies.

yes, that's because they are many breeds and feed on specific plants only.

[maki]

3Boys:

maki:

Overnight, it should be a pupa by now. Just LEAVE it alone, don't even bother to clean up. It may fall off from the twig or support, but it's ok. Just leave it in a dry place & AVOID moving or shaking it. Just observe from afar & leave a small gap on the lid. In about 11-13 days' time, you should get to see the beautiful transformation!


We were always fascinated by the overnight transformation from the caterpillar to pupa. Once, we tried to capture it's \"weaving\" moment when it was about to change into a full pupa (& it only happened when it's dark) - but we totally regretted our action cos when it sees the light, the \"weaving\" stopped half-way and the caterpillar eventually died in that state.

Thank you maki! So even if it falls off the perch, it'll be able to pupate? It really caught us by surprise when it changed overnight and my boys were screeching with excitement this morning.

It should be. Just leave it alone. The shaking & moving may disturbed the transformation process and we had 1 or 2 handicapped ones which could not fly as the wings were not properly formed.


Your boys will be screaming even louder in about 10 days' time! :!:

[corneyAmber]

BigDevil:

:hi5: maid!


First time I come across this acronym too and thanks to Google, I now know it means \"Correct Me If I'm Wrong\".

Wow, BigD! :udaman: Never thought of doing a google search for that! :oops: Glad to be enlightened! :celebrate: :thankyou: so much! :love:

[BigDevil]

Aiyoh maid...no need to kowtow lah. :oops:


This one even simpler than animating a still picture. Just highlight and search. :lol:

[corneyAmber]

BigDevil:

Aiyoh maid...no need to kowtow lah. :oops:


This one even simpler than animating a still picture. Just highlight and search. :lol:

:thankyou: :rotflmao:

[jtoh]

maki:

jtoh:

Where would I go to get a caterpillar? This is so interesting.

You can get one of the most commonest breed ie the lime butterflies from the kumquat plant (especially during CNY).

http://butterflycircle.blogspot.com/2008/04/life-history-of-lime-butterfly_01.html

These butterflies are attracted by the strong citrus smell of the plant. You will find many butterflies laying eggs on the underside of the leaves. The birds will also be your common visitors which can be a nuisance. So after about a week or so, before they are eaten up by the birds and when it's easier to breed them when its bigger, you should transfer these caterpillars to a transparent plastic container & poke some holes on the lid for ventilation. Place some leaves with twigs as these crawlies love lazing on the twigs. Their consumption is small initially but once it sheds it skin from brown to green, their consumption became enormous, so just make sure you have enough leaves overnight during this period.

Cleaning is needed daily but once it's about to be a pupa, then just leave it alone.

Thanks!

[3Boys]

Here is my update.....




I must say I never thought I could feel so moved by a 6-legged creature, but.....

Long story short....the pupa had been a precarious position on the side of the plastic container, and 2 days prior to shedding, the pupa had finally fallen off its perch onto the bottom of the container. I was getting concerned, but was simply too busy these few days to post a question for help. Finally, last night, when it emerged unseen by any of us, it was on its side.....with predictably disastrous results. The wings are malformed and the poor guy can't fly

Sigh....

I brought him out to my garden and he is now clinging on to the side of an orchid plant. He is doomed, unfortunately......

Why did the vendor put he in a clear plastic container with no twigs for him to mount securely?

Why were there no instructions to do the above?

I heard subsequently that if the pupa falls off, you could use a small piece of scotch tape to gingerly tape the base of the pupa back to the side of the container or perch, is this true?

It's just a small butterfly, but I am feeling a BIG loss.